What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Ripton
People
Population	666Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT
	Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	30.5%±7.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	48%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Lowest VT: 7%	20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT	$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT	$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT
	Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174 4% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Lowest 4% below VT	$4,915Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%	52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.